today 09:55
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Slovakian skier Petra Vlhová finished sixth after the first round of the World Cup giant slalom on Saturday. In Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, she was 36 hundredths of a second behind the surprising leader Valerie Grenier from Canada after the start of the fifteen elite female competitors.
The ride was hampered by reduced visibility, a light mist drifted over the lower reaches. Vlhová was strong from the start, she was careful at the critical gate before the first interval, where the direction of the climb changed, and after the second sector she narrowly edged Gutová-Behramiová, leader up to that point. Dolu was a little less active and at the finish line she was in third position. Subsequently, three other female contestants surpassed her.
“I think it wasn’t that bad. I felt like I could stick it more. I rode as hard as I could but I know I can ride even better. So this will be the main focus until the 2nd round. The track is fantastic, I had the feeling that it was even harder on parade, during the 1st lap the track loosened up a bit due to the heat, but the conditions are excellent”. declared for JOJ Šport Vlhová.
In the opening round she surprised Grenierová, who set the fastest time with the number 12 and for the first time in her career she finished in front after the 1st lap of the corner. However, before the 2nd round (12:30), several female competitors had a chance to win, seven female skiers could come back in just over half a second.
SP leader and winner of the previous five races, USA’s Mikaela Shiffrin, chasing her 82nd win and compatriot Lindsey Vonn’s women’s record, finished fifth overall (+0.31). More clearly detached the French Tessa Worley, defender of the small globe, who on the track built by her coach climbed to the 11th fastest time (+1.00).
Slovenia is Slovakia this weekend! Kranjska Gora was shaken to its foundations by Petra Vlhová:
